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PAN Foundation

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Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: July 6th, 2022

The Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) is an independent, national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications. Since its founding in 2004, PAN has provided nearly 1 million underinsured patients with over $3 billion in financial assistance to help pay for deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance, travel expenses, prescription drug coverage, and health insurance premiums. The organization operates over 60 disease-specific programs.

The majority of individuals helped by the PAN Foundation are Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare beneficiaries, by law, are unable to receive financial assistance for their out-of-pocket expenses directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Charitable foundations like PAN are the only assistance program organizations to which Medicare beneficiaries can turn for help in paying for out-of-pocket costs.

The PAN Foundation is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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The Good

  • Accessible Financial Information
  • Healthcare Quality Not Sacrificed
  • Effective Program Delivery
  • Donor Communication

Accessible Financial Information

The PAN Foundation is diligent about publishing its annual reports, audited financial statements, and IRS Form 990s so that they are available to the public. This information is easy to locate and access in the “About Us” section of the website. 

Healthcare Quality Not Sacrificed 

Though patients qualifying for the patient assistance program through the PAN Foundation receive grants they do not need to repay, the quality of care from health care professionals is not diminished. Medications, physician care, and other patient needs are treated without regard to the need for co-pay assistance, whether that means help paying for the most in-demand prescription drug or a long stay at a top children's hospital. 

Effective Program Delivery 

Financial reports indicate that this organization exercises responsible financial management and effective program delivery. For example, in 2015, the PAN Foundation spent an average of 95% of its annual revenue for program delivery. The budgets for fundraising efforts and total administrative costs were less than 1% and 0.5% of the annual revenue, respectively. These numbers support the organization’s claim that it is a capable and trustworthy advocate to patients in need. 

Donor Communication

Interested parties can contact the PAN Foundation and speak directly with the organization’s development staff. They can also register on PAN’s Donor Portal. Additionally, they can opt to receive PAN Foundation updates through an emailed newsletter and can follow the PAN Foundation on social media. The organization maintains accounts for communication with the general public on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn. 

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The Bad

  • Enrollment Limitations

Enrollment Limitations

Unlike health insurance providers that specify an eligibility period and enrollment process deadline for a patient's application, PAN's grant enrollment availability is limited instead by donor support and patient income. Unfortunately, the PAN Foundation is unable to assist everyone in need. To qualify for co-pay assistance or other out-of-pocket expenses coverage, a patient must have health insurance that covers a qualifying medication or product, and his or her income must fall at or below 400% or 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, depending on the disease fund-specific guidelines. 

Many of the operating disease fund programs are currently closed to new or returning patients, with an unknown future enrollment and eligibility period. However, the funding status of each disease program can change depending on donations, so prospective program beneficiaries are encouraged to check the enrollment status often for  application information. In the interim, the PAN Foundation provides links to other organizations that may be able to assist. 

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The Bottom Line

The PAN Foundation’s healthcare funding programs are life-saving options for those needing prescription drugs to manage chronic or terminal illnesses and are either uninsured or underinsured. This non-profit organization truly is a life-changingpatient access network, as the name suggests, for people below the federal poverty level. Furthermore, the PAN Foundation shows it cares about caregiver family members by providing resources for them on the company website. Programs and services are listed that might be helpful to a family member or others assisting a loved one. 

Prospective donors can fund programs that are currently closed or limited to returning patients, and they can contribute confidently, knowing that the organization’s financial reports demonstrate financial efficiency and integrity. 

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Carol Ellis Asheville, NC

Hi I’m Carol Ellis and I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1996 and I get a monthly infusion of Tysabri and it’s so expensive that I couldn’t get it if it wasn’t for the help of PAN paying for it !my treatments would cost me $300,000+a year!! And I personally don’t know anybody that could afford that !! ! But at the end of the year when you have to re enroll it’s very scary because if they haven’t received enough donations you may not be accepted !! So far they’ve always been there for me and I’m so blessed and thankful to them !! If I don’t get my infusion I can’t even get out of bed !! But so far it’s kept me from getting worse and I can play and enjoy the love of my life Gemma my 4 year old granddaughter !! My weekend is being with her and my daughter Amber and that it is my wonderful world !! So Ithank PAN and everyone that donates to make my infusion possible !! That infustion is so important to me in so many ways but it makes feel normal to be with my girls !! So PLEASE if you can DONATE PLEASE DO it will help so many of us !!! Thank you if you can !!! 😁❤️

6 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Gerald Voigt New York, NY

I had HEP-C and tried interferon 3 times. It didn't work and made my life a living hell. So now there is a new pill to take and even though I have good insurance the co-pay was $8k and my liver was in bad shape. I filled out the online form and got an immediate response that they would give me up to $15k for co-pay. You need a pharmacist willing to go the extra mile for you but n my case I dealt directly with my insurer's pharmacy who told me they were very familiar with PAN and they made it happen really fast. I thought it was a scam at first because it was so easy.

6 years ago

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Frances barber Parkville, MD

Pan foundation has been helping me for over two years now. Without them I would not be able to afford the medication needed to keep me alive. I have been battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia and after several different treatment rounds of chemo was put on Imbruvica with a very positive response. This is a costly medication and I thank God there is a support system like the PAN Foundation to help people like me

6 years ago

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Jeff Roswell, GA

A great foundation doing great work and a great service. When I couldn't find anywhere else to help me pay for a needed prescription drug, I stumbled upon PAN Foundation's website and it was a God sent. Their customer service is great and always readily available to help if I have any questions or problems at the pharmacy if any arise. This foundation should be a model that other foundations follow!

6 years ago Edited September 14, 2021

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Laura Aristy Skiatook, OK

This is God sent.... I was diagnosed with a terminal illness & medication copay was outrageous... Thank you to the PAN Foundation or else I would have not been able to get the treatment.... on the road to recovery

6 years ago

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Nancy Lingo Tampa, FL

PAN foundation has helped me for many years. Except now when I’ve tried to apply to renew my grant they tell me there is a computer system error for my account. It has been over a week, and there has been no resolution.

2 years ago

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RFD Indianapolis, IN

So far after 4-5 months of trying we are unable to use the money granted by PAN. Every time we try we are denied. Every time I call I get different information and get told we need something else. I spent 3-4 times calling the billing company of the provider to get what they specifically told me to get from them and now they are denying it again saying it is still not specific enough. No other foundation I have dealt with in the fight against cancer with/for my spouse has been so difficult in order to use the grant. We will most likely lose the grant at this point since we are unable to get whatever they now need. The lady is not even sure what that is and got rude with me. She doesn't seem to understand how frustrating this is for someone to fight cancer and battle to try to get help from a foundation that is supposed to be doing that. My question is why make it so hard? They pay for certain drugs. We get the forms saying those drugs were used and we get the forms they asked me for in the last call. Those are still not enough. So far no one can tell me what would be enough. How is this helping patients PAN?

2 years ago

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Kim King Fort Lauderdale, FL

I needed treatment that would cost me $5000 co pay per month for three months. Pan Foundation handled it all with grace and compassion. Without it, I would have died.

6 years ago

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Tom Pioneer, CA

Helpful and kind..efficient..and saves my husband's life with this help

7 years ago

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Jacqueline Garcia Pueblo, CO

The rx numbers I was given by the foundation did not work at my pharmacy which is an in-network pharmacy.

5 years ago